Contemporary Art

Loosely defined as the art of today or the art of our lifetime, the term “contemporary art” is usually used more specifically to describe artworks created since the 1980s or 1990s. For collection purposes, the Frye Art Museum currently delineates the scope as 1990 to the present.

In the more general sense, the Frye has collected and exhibited contemporary—or contemporaneous—art since its opening in 1952. This commitment to the art and culture of the present was catalyzed by Museum founders Charles and Emma Frye, who amassed a collection of paintings made within their own lifetimes and often purchased works directly from living artists. Over the last seven decades, directors of the Museum have each brought their own interests and interpretations to bear on the Frye’s engagement with contemporary art and thereby shaped a distinctive collection.

Prior to the tenure of Elsa “Midge” Bowman (Director, 2004–09), and often counter to dominant trends in art of the time, the Frye’s leadership focused exclusively on exhibiting and collecting representational art, citing Charles and Emma Frye’s preferences for figurative and landscape painting. Under Bowman’s direction, the exhibitions program at the Frye expanded into areas like video art and performance that questioned and upended the definition of representational art. In 2008, the Museum’s mission was revised to embrace art in its myriad forms. The Frye’s contemporary art collection has grown significantly since that time, reflecting the diversity of the institution’s engagement with local, national, and international artists working today.

Gingko bilobaGretchen Frances Bennett2023
Venus Jar 4: My MothersHanako O’Leary2020
FryeTracy and the Plastics2006-2014
Sister TotemMarita Dingus2023
Solid CitizenJessica Jackson Hutchins2008
Study for 2x4 with yellow fillMargie Livingston2011
Fu DogsJeffry Mitchell2005
FeastDan Webb2006
Breathless #6Jennie C. Jones2008
Single CabinetLiz Magor2001
BabyNatalie Ball2018
untitledEva Koťátková2011
untitledEva Koťátková2011
untitledEva Koťátková2011
Palouse Pattern IRobert Weingarten2001
Untitled #041220Georgina Reskala2017
Cherry PieGeorge Fischer1993
Hedonic Reversal #7Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Sea BreezePeter Poskas1997
Chemically TannedAlison Bremner2017
The WaitCarol Mothner1998
Between Life and LifeWill Barnet1998
Birmingham (left)Toyin Ojih Odutola2014
Gallery with TriptychStan Washburn1998
Birmingham (center)Toyin Ojih Odutola2014
Afternoon NapVictoria Browning Wyeth1996
Birmingham (right)Toyin Ojih Odutola2014
UntitledKo Kirk Yamahira2019
Lot 248 (still)Amie Siegel2013
Panthrastic Harp ZitherDegenerate Art Ensemble2005
TrapDuane Linklater2016
UntitledIsaac Layman2011
Still Lives: ExposureSusie J. Lee2010
Landscape with ChadAnne Fenton2012
Physical PlantWilliam Allik1996
Untitled (XIV)Rafael Soldi2013
EidolonCris Bruch2015
Hedonic Reversal #15Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Pink on Black GroupKatherine Bradford2022
ButterflyBony Ramirez2021
Madrone + MullanSadie Wechsler2021
Mangahufo' I famaguonGisela McDaniel2021
Night ForestAnn Leda Shapiro2022
Three SlicesAmoako Boafo2021
Black Face with Wide ChestTschabalala Self2021
Blue-Eyed SusanAndrew Wyeth1992
Becoming MineralClarissa Tossin2021
Wild Rose LardLucille Hulburt1990
My MotherWilliam Beckman2000
Little Meat ThiefMark Ryden2005
Ode to Octavia: Neo-Ancient TaliswomanThe Black Constellation2012
Hedonic Reversal #3Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
This Is Who We AreInye Wokoma2016
Bamboo No.14Robert Kraftt1994
The UnknownOtis Kwame Kye Quaicoe2020
Cat Bates of MonheganJamie Wyeth1995
Flying Female #4Michael Bergt1998
The Dorothy K: Bow DressImplied Violence2010
Ode to Octavia: Cranium Adornment #5The Black Constellation2012
Hedonic Reversal #4Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.15George Chacona1994
To a FlameAnthony White2019
Persian PeaceConnie Hertner1991
IRT #7Steven Assael1997
Palouse Pattern IIIRobert Weingarten2001
The Dorothy K: Large ClawImplied Violence2010
Landscape #7Matt Browning2012
Occasional PoemsMaged Zaher2015
Hedonic Reversal #5Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.16Julie Paschkis1994
Untitled (Badlands)Juventino Aranda2018
Windy DayPeter Sculthorpe1990
Stereoscopic ViewerByron Bratt1995
UntitledJudith Glantzman2002
Cuckoo Crow: HatchlingDegenerate Art Ensemble2007
Get up!Anne Focke2013
ProleRodrigo Valenzuela2015
Hedonic Reversal #6Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Waves FloaterRomero Britto2017
Bamboo No.17Lockwood Dennis1994
EgungunCauleen Smith2015
Pumpkin PeopleJamie Wyeth1991
Great NotionsByron Bratt1990
Family TidesMark Spencer2000
Chest Harp 1Degenerate Art Ensemble2006
UntitledMark Calderon2012
Hedonic Reversal #8Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.2Jimmy Jet1993
Bamboo No.18Barbara Noah1994
Dress for SuccessRose Nestler2018
Love CyclamenMarilyn Schutzky1990
Engine 55, East Broome StreetFrederick Brosen1998
Large Red Poppies IGary Bukovnik2002
Chest Harp 2Degenerate Art Ensemble2006
RiverTim Lowly2004
EcdysisIshmael Butler2015
Hedonic Reversal #9Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.3Gene Gentry McMahon1993
Bamboo No.19Rebecca Struck1994
Strange BusinessRose Nestler2017-2018
Halibut CoveTed Rand1990
Horse IJoe Andoe1994
Untitled (Nail Harp)Degenerate Art Ensemble2005
Dawn in LuxorKahlil Joseph2016
Hedonic Reversal #10Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.4Mrs. Crispwick1993
Bamboo No.20Fay Jones1994
Portrait of Erwin WurmJoseph Park2007
Basket of Flowers - Summer '91Rosalyn Gale Powell1991
Horse IIJoe Andoe1994
DeerlegsDegenerate Art Ensemble2007
Hedonic Reversal #11Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.5Scott Smith1993
Bamboo No.21Michael Spafford1994
FormationKelly Akashi2021
Ogle's SamovarTake Hama1992
Seated FigureRaoul F. Middleman1999
Cuckoo Crow: TransformationDegenerate Art Ensemble2011
Eclipse Tower 1Web Crowell and Stacey Levine2015
Hedonic Reversal #12Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.6T. Michael Gardiner1993
Bamboo No.22Karen Guzak1994
Four WorkersJohn McIver1991
UntitledRobert McCurdy1999
UntitledIsaac Layman2011
Hedonic Reversal #13Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.7Dennis Evans1993
Bamboo No.23George Tsutakawa1994
After Boucher: UntitledMolly Jae Vaughan2022
Side Road Landscape, 1994William Beckman1994
Giglio SundayDoug Safranek1998
Still Life with KumquatsJames Aponovich1993
El Sisifo (The Sisyphus)Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
An Agnostic ManifestoLesley Hazleton2015
Hedonic Reversal #14Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.8Jeffrey Bishop1993
Bamboo No.24Gayle Bard1994
Ear (Good)Srijon Chowdhury2022
Bear IconLeslie Morgan1993
Via del PantheonWilliam H. Bailey1997
History LessonBo Bartlett2002
Hedonic Reversal #1Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Sonnet ManifestoPaul Mullin2015
Hedonic Reversal #16Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.9Mare Blocker1994
Bamboo No.25Carolyn Law1994
Stylite AltarpieceEden Seifu2022
Lilith and WomanLilian Broca1999
Hedonic Reversal #17Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Bamboo No.10Virginia Paquette1994
Bamboo No.26Nancy Mee1994
Ground of GroundHarry Gould Harvey IV2022
La Clairière (The Meadow)Richard C. Whitten1994
World of WondersStephen Fisher1991
Beltway ApocalypseDavid Horsey1998
ClinkersLeo Berk2012
Wind JangleLeo Berk2015
Window InstallationBuster Simpson1974-2013
Bamboo No.11Mauricio Robalino1994
Adam and Eve DressedJanette K. Hopper1996
For FunKhari Johnson-Ricks2021
Clayoquot DugoutsJean-Claude Michel1994
FireLisa Zwerling1998
Curse You, Peter Pan...!David Horsey1998
Not Waving, but DrowningJeffry Mitchell2012
Avatar: Fanon & DeccaC. Davida Ingram2015
Painted SilhouetteBuster Simpson1974-2013
Bamboo No.12C.T. Chew1994
Disaster KitchenMolly Zuckerman-Hartung2008-2011
SeerRuth Weisberg1994
Hedonic Reversal #2Rodrigo Valenzuela2015
Street ActionBuster Simpson1974-2013
Bamboo No.13Jose Rodriguez Guerra1994
From Sea to DawnRamin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh, Hesam Rahmanian2016
Baby BlueAmoako Boafo2021

Formation

Kelly Akashi

Chromogenic crystallograph in aluminum artist's frame

2021

Bamboo No.17

Judith Allen

Letterpress and woodcut

1994

Ode to Octavia: Cranium Adornment #5

Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes

Composited bone, enamel, found goggles

2012

Ode to Octavia Part 12: (Sparkles)...Recollections of the Wraith

Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes

Digital video (color, sound); 4:49 min.

2012

Ode to Octavia: Neo-Ancient Taliswoman

Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes

Incantation, repurposed bronze, brass, silver, stainless steel, rosewood, beechnut, abalone shell, ibex and dik-dik horn, precious and semiprecious stones, 1996 GMC truck key

2012

Physical Plant

William Allik

Oil on panel

1996

Horse I

Joe Andoe

Lithograph

1994

Horse II

Joe Andoe

Lithograph

1994

Still Life with Kumquats

James Aponovich

Oil on canvas

1993

Untitled (Badlands)

Juventino Aranda

Oil on wool Pendleton blanket

2018

Bamboo No.6

Gretchen Adele Armstrong

Letterpress and lithograph

1993

IRT #7

Steven Assael

Oil on canvas

1997

Via del Pantheon

William H. Bailey

Pencil on paper

1997

Bamboo No.13

Alex O. Baker

Letterpress and lithograph

1994

Baby

Natalie Ball

Cotton cloth, twine, clay, leather, metal jingles, deer legs, and shoes

2018